Sheet Metal Technology Degree

In its most basic definition, a Sheet Metal Technician will have the know-how and hands-on experience to fold, shape, bend, curl, expanding, decamber, hem, hydroform, iron, laser cut, punch, spin, and form extruded metals to modify existing products or make new products. Get more details below including other Washington colleges that offer sheet metal technology degrees.

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Bates Technical College

6007- A 244th Street SW, Mountlake Terrace, WA

About
Bates Technical College, located in Tacoma, Washington, began operation in 1940 as a vocational school operating out of the Hawthorne Elementary School basement. The school expanded quickly, becoming a Tacoma Vocation-Technical Institute in 1947, under the direction of Vern Bates, who retired in 1969. To honor Mr. Bates, the school was renamed L.H. Bates Vocational Technical Institute.

By 1991 the school was merged into the Washington State Board of Community and Technical Colleges, where eventually the name was once again changed to its current. The school has expanded its offerings and is dedicated to providing the best education possible for its service area.
Academics
Bates Technical College's primary offerings are for career and technical training to assist individuals in entering the workforce. These programs utilize simulated real world settings to impart the skills and abilities necessary for employment in one's chosen field, with such fields typically being in high demand, particularly among businesses in the BTC's service area. T

hese programs take between one and two years to complete, resulting in a certificate or associate's degree that demonstrates competency and dedication.
Some programs offer transferable credits that may be used in the pursuit of higher levels of education. This is done by completing the equivalent of the first two years of a four year education, followed by applying for transfer to a four year institution to continue that education and earn a  bachelor's degree.

Transfer to a public Washington college or university will be easier through transfer agreements that guarantee acceptance if certain requirements are met. Transfer to private or out of state schools will be more difficult due to more stringent admissions policies for transfer students.  As a technical college, earned credits may not be transferable by out of state school's or private schools, and as a result should be discussed with a counselor.
Programs offered include:

• Business Administration
• Engineering
• Construction
• Information Technology
• General Education

Admissions and Financial Aid
Bates Technical College is an open enrollment institution that admits any individuals that meet the minimum criteria for admission, submit a completed application and pay accrued fees. Students are also asked to provide previous transcripts and standardized test scores, and may be asked to take a placement exam prior to registration.

The school also encourages meeting with a counselor to discuss goals and program enrollment.  Financial aid is available in the form of loans, grants and scholarships. Students in need of financial assistance must complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the information from which is used by the school's financial aid department to determine the student's need and aid program eligibility prior to forming a financial aid packet.

Financial aid must be reapplied for prior to each academic year. Students may be chosen at random to provide additional information to be compared to the FAFSA in order to verify its accuracy as part of new federal regulations governing the disbursement of aid funds.

Students Enrolled in the Sheet Metal Technology Program

Get more details below regarding enrollment, academics, and school demographics. Bates Technical College has offered the following program levels for students:

• Less Than One Year Certificate
• Associate's Degree
• Less Than Four-Year Award

Students by Academic Level (2019)

Students by Gender (2019)

Students by Race (2019)

Source: IPEDS Survey 2012-2020: Data obtained from the US Dept. of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Data may vary depending on school and academic year.

Career Options for Graduates

Sheet Metal Workers

Description

Fabricate, assemble, install, and repair sheet metal products and equipment, such as ducts, control boxes, drainpipes, and furnace casings. Work may involve any of the following: setting up and operating fabricating machines to cut, bend, and straighten sheet metal; shaping metal over anvils, blocks, or forms using hammer; operating soldering and welding equipment to join sheet metal parts; or inspecting, assembling, and smoothing seams and joints of burred surfaces. Includes sheet metal duct installers who install prefabricated sheet metal ducts used for heating, air conditioning, or other purposes.

Career Outlook & Projections ()

According to the BLS, sheet metal workers employment is expected to grow at a rate of 6.7% from 2014 to 2024

Salary & Wages

• Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division
  • Total Employment: 2
  • Average Hourly Rate: $29.31
  • Average Annual Salary: $60970
• Tacoma-Lakewood, WA Metropolitan Division
  • Total Employment: 150
  • Average Hourly Rate: $32.60
  • Average Annual Salary: $67820

Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Description

Set up, operate, or tend machines to roll steel or plastic forming bends, beads, knurls, rolls, or plate or to flatten, temper, or reduce gauge of material.

Career Outlook & Projections ()

According to the BLS, rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic employment is expected to shrink at a rate of -13.5% from 2014 to 2024

Salary & Wages

• Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division
  • Total Employment: 180
  • Average Hourly Rate: $20.37
  • Average Annual Salary: $42370
• Tacoma-Lakewood, WA Metropolitan Division
  • Total Employment: 70
  • Average Hourly Rate: $20.35
  • Average Annual Salary: $42330

Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Description

Set up, operate, or tend machines to saw, cut, shear, slit, punch, crimp, notch, bend, or straighten metal or plastic material.

Career Outlook & Projections ()

According to the BLS, cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic employment is expected to shrink at a rate of -20.6% from 2014 to 2024

Salary & Wages

• Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division
  • Total Employment: 1
  • Average Hourly Rate: $21.00
  • Average Annual Salary: $43690
• Tacoma-Lakewood, WA Metropolitan Division
  • Total Employment: 350
  • Average Hourly Rate: $19.53
  • Average Annual Salary: $40610

Model Makers, Metal and Plastic

Description

Set up and operate machines, such as lathes, milling and engraving machines, and jig borers to make working models of metal or plastic objects. Includes template makers.

Career Outlook & Projections ()

According to the BLS, model makers, metal and plastic employment is expected to shrink at a rate of -21.5% from 2014 to 2024

Salary & Wages

• Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division
  • Total Employment: 90
  • Average Hourly Rate: $34.11
  • Average Annual Salary: $70950

Source: Job descriptions, estimated salary and wages, and projected job growth are taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).